Hockett moved, second by Pilger, to approve the Consent Agenda as amended. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

Jim Mesler told the Council he was upset with the recent discussion about funeral participants parking on Gear Avenue in the vicinity of the cemetery. He said the parking on Gear has been going on for years and he doesn’t understand why it is an issue now. Mayor Trousil explained the topic came up during general discussion concerning the placement of traffic signals on Gear Avenue. He said the discussion was reported in the news the following day and the topic grew from there. The City is concerned that increased traffic on Gear Avenue could be dangerous when cars are parking on the street while attending a funeral. Mayor Trousil said until there is a permanent solution the Police Department will attempt to have an officer there as long as they receive at least 24-hour notification. Mayor Trousil said Deery Brothers has offered to allow parking on his car lot when participants are attending a funeral.

Consider First Reading of Ordinance for Partial Exemption from Property Tax – 2510 W. Mt. Pleasant St. – Hockett moved, second by Pilger, to approve an ordinance on first consideration providing for partial exemption from property taxation of the actual value added to Industrial Real Estate by the new construction of Industrial Real Estate, Research Service Facilities, Warehouses, Distribution Centers and the Acquisition of or improvement to machinery and equipment assessed as Real Estate pursuant to Chapter 427B of the Code of Iowa.

This is for the construction of a 20,000 sq. ft. spec warehouse, as an addition to the existing building at 2510 W. Mt. Pleasant Street and belonging to Commercial Plaza, Inc. (Rodney Wittkamp). Roll call. Ayes: Hockett, Lees, Pilger and Crowner. Nays: Johnson. Motion carried.

Consider Resolution Waiving Second and Third Reading of an Ordinance – Hockett moved, second by Pilger, to approve a resolution waiving the second and third reading of an ordinance. Roll call. Ayes: Lees, Crowner, Hockett and Pilger. Nays: Johnson. Motion carried.

Consider First Reading of Ordinance for Partial Exemption from Property Tax – Corner of US 34 and 406 – Hockett moved, second by Pilger, to approve an ordinance on first consideration providing for partial exemption from property taxation of the actual value added to Industrial Real Estate by the new construction of Industrial Real Estate, Research Service Facilities, Warehouses, Distribution Centers and the Acquisition of or improvement to machinery and equipment assessed as Real Estate pursuant to Chapter 427B of the Code of Iowa. Roll call. Ayes: Hockett, Lees, Pilger and Crowner. Nays: Johnson. Motion carried.

This is for an additional warehouse located at the Southeast corner of intersection US 34 and 406 belonging to Industrial Service Corp. (Rodney Wittkamp).

Consider Resolution Waiving Second and Third Reading of an Ordinance – Hockett moved, second by Pilger, to approve a resolution waiving the second and third reading of an ordinance. Roll call. Ayes: Lees, Crowner, Hockett and Pilger. Nays: Johnson. Motion carried.

Consider Payment to Carl A. Nelson Company for Wastewater Treatment Improvements – Lees moved, second by Hockett, to approve payment to Carl A. Nelson Company in the amount of $394,700.87 for the Wastewater Treatment Improvements. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

Consider Payment to KWS, Inc. for Division 2 – Traffic Signal Improvements – Lees moved, second by Pilger, to approve payment in the amount of $101,369.61 to KWS for the Division 2 Traffic Signal Improvements. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

Consider Engineering Services Proposal for Gear Avenue Corridor Area – Mayor Trousil said continuing commercial development in the Gear Avenue Corridor area, has made significant changes in the levels and distribution of traffic. These changes should be documented by updating the traffic count database. He said many of the upcoming projects for traffic signalization, as well as, implementation of the traffic signal timing for the project currently under construction, are dependent upon this updated information.

Lees moved, second by Crowner, to approve an Engineering Services Agreement with Shive-Hattery Engineers for Gear Avenue Corridor Area. The cost for the service is $14,700.00. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

Consider Engineering Services Proposal for Farm Supply/Mall Entrance Traffic Signal Relocation – Mayor Trousil said this project involves the removal of the existing signal at the Target/Mall entrance. This relocation is essential to provide adequate spacing between signals allowing for proper progression through this signalized corridor. Shive-Hattery Engineer, Bill Cary, said the relocation is dependent upon the demonstration that traffic conditions meet the required signal warrants. The proposed project has received an allocation of $70,000 in STP funding (federal-aid $56,000; local $14,000), subject to meeting the program requirements that include the traffic signal warrants.

Lees moved, second by Crowner, to approve the Engineering Services Proposal for Farm King/Mall Entrance Traffic Signal Relocation. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried. Hockett said he believes the part of this project that is not paid with grants should be financed by special assessment of adjoining property owners.

Consider Engineering Services Proposal for GRMC Emergency/SCC Entrance Traffic Signal on Agency Road – Mayor Trousil said this project involves the installation of a new traffic signal at the GRMC Emergency and SCC Entrance. The hospital and community college requested this installation for improved access to their facilities. Administrator Mandsager is working with representatives from the hospital and the college to determine their level of involvement. Hockett said he believes both entities should pay for the traffic signal. He said SCC has five and one half times the tax base of the City and a budget four times larger. He said the safety of the students is their responsibility.

Lees moved, second by Crowner, to approve the Engineering Services Proposal for GRMC Emergency/SCC Entrance Traffic Signal on Agency. Voice vote. All aye except Hockett who voted nay. Motion carried.

Consider Repair of 1993 International Dump Truck – Public Works Director Fry said the 1993 International dump truck needs to be repaired. He said the throw out bearing failed and damaged the clutch and transmission. He obtained two quotes for the needed repairs. Hockett moved, second by Pilger, to approve repair to the dump truck. The low bidder was Centre State in the amount of $1,299.90. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

Consider Payment to JD Electric for work on West Lift Station - $3,656.54 – Administrator Mandsager said emergency work was done by JD Electric on the West Lift Station. He said they installed a low voltage starter which starts the pump when the flow reaches the appropriate height, preventing flooding of the lift. This also provides for a slow start so that the entire system is not jolted.

Hockett moved, second by Pilger, to approve payment to JD Electric for work on the west lift station in the amount of $3,656.54. Voice vote. All aye. Motion carried.

Consider Membership Issue for Fire Department – Mayor Trousil explained one of the volunteer firemen took a job in Ames and according to the by-laws when a person moves out of town and into another area out of our fire district he is automatically off the fire department. After one week the fireman returned to town and has accepted a position with the Burlington Fire Department. He wants to remain with the West Burlington Department. Chief Astfalk said it is the opinion of the Fire Department members that the fireman should resign from the department and re-apply. Mayor Trousil said he does not think this is necessary and recommended the Council not accept the resignation.

Johnson moved, second by Hockett, to not accept the resignation of Volunteer Fire Fighter Kirk Logan. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

Consider Request from Great River Medical Center for Forgiveness of Penalty for Water Bill – Mayor Trousil explained the City received a request from Great River Medical Center concerning a penalty they were charged on their water bill. They said the bill is for the month of July and that they never received it. They said they did not feel it was fair to pay a penalty on a bill they did not receive. They said they have paid all their bills to the City in a timely manner and have made every attempt to pay well before the due dates. They ask for the penalty to be forgiven.

Council Member Crowner asked if we could confirm they were sent a bill. City Clerk Simonson said all water bills are sent out on the same day and that their bill was mailed. She also said a copy of their bill is faxed in order to provide an accurate breakdown for their various meters. The City cannot be responsible for undelivered bills. Hockett moved, second by Pilger, to deny the request from Great River Medical Center to forgive their penalty on their July water bill. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

SANITATION – Administrator Mandsager said Chad Lambi from Shive-Hattery will be at our next Council Meeting to report on the status of the Wastewater Treatment Project.

UTILITIES – There was nothing to report.

PUBLIC SAFETY – Fire Chief Astfalk said he is having the pumps on the fire trucks tested.

FINANCE – Crowner said he would like the Council to consider setting aside a portion of the revenue the City will receive from renting space on the water tower to use for donations. He said the City receives various requests for donations and he believes this would be a good use of the money because he knows there are some who do not like to use tax revenue for donations. Hockett said he would have a problem with this. He said he does not feel it is the City’s responsibility to provide non-basic public services. Pilger said he would rather see the revenue from the water tower used for park or pool improvements or to purchase land for future parks. The Council agreed they would discuss this during budget time.

STREETS – Dan Hockett played a video he had made of an intersection in Cedar Rapids that resembles the intersection of Gear Avenue and Mt. Pleasant Street.

CLOSED SESSION: To Discuss the purchase of particular real estate only where premature disclosure could be reasonably expected to increase the price the governmental body would have to pay for that property – Lees moved, second by Hockett, to go into Closed Session in accordance with Iowa Code Chapter 21.5(j). Roll call. Ayes: Lees, Hockett, Crowner, Pilger and Johnson. Nays: None. Motion carried.

The closed session ended at 7:10 p.m.

ADJOURN – There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m. upon motion by Lees and second by Pilger. Voice vote. All ayes. Motion carried.

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Approved Terrie L. Simonson, City Clerk

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